Quebec minor league hockey coach suspended 10 years for punching opposing player during fight

A Midget A hockey game between the Chicoutimi Cougars and the Jonquière Pumas this past October 20 turned ugly when Pumas assistant coach André Harvey appears to punch a Chicoutimi player as the two teams skirmished near the Jonquière bench. As if Harvey's actions weren't deplorable enough, the skirmish erupted into a full-blown fight, and the referee attempting to break up the scrap got hauled down to the ice with the two players and was on the receiving end of a couple of punches himself, although it appears that even though he took a couple of shots himself, the referee wasn't the players' intended target. Then again these are 16-year-old players we're talking about here, so there is a chance that emotions and lack of common sense got the better of them.

The two players involved in the fight, as well as a third player, were suspended for their role in the brawl, as was a couple of coaches not named André Harvey. Their suspensions were not known at this time, however, Harvey has been banned from coaching for 10 years.

A Saguenay, Que., hockey coach who punched a 16-year-old during a brawl last weekend in a Midget A game has been given a 10-year suspension.

André Harvey was one of two coaches and three players who were involved in the fight.

Harvey told the Quebec Ice Hockey Federation's regional disciplinary committee, which met Thursday night to discuss the case, that what he did was wrong and he regrets his action.

"A coach has to know that he plays a crucial role at all times and has great influence on the people around him," the Hockey Quebec statement said. "He must play an educational role with respect to his players and show respect in his demeanour. This action went against the principles we look for when a coach gets involved in a sport, in any sport."

I think 10 years is enough of a punishment, just as I'm sure Harvey has learned his lesson that a) coaches should never get involved in players fighting (a.k.a. the Jeff Van Gundy rule as it's known), and b) punching a player with a helmet and full face mask with your bare hand is a pretty stupid thing to do in its own right.